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Who Should Buy the 2019 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack Widebody

By Patrick Rall, LXForums Editor

Who Should Buy the 2019 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack Widebody

Over the past few months, Ive had several chances to spend time behind the wheel of a 2019 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody. My first experience with the 485-horsepower Widebody car came on the road course of Club Motorsports in Vermont, followed by some road driving in rural Vermont and Maine. More recently, I had a Destroyer Grey Scat Pack Widebody for the Woodward Dream Cruise, allowing me to test the car on my local roads.

Driving the Widebody Scat Pack on the race track and on roads in two different areas gave me a great feel for the car. Giving me an even better feel for the newest widebody offering was the fact that when driving it, I also spent time driving it back-to-back with a new Redeye in Maine and my own Hellcat Challenger when I had the car at home. While comparing the 707-horsepower Hellcat or the 797-horsepower Redeye to the 485-horsepower Scat Pack might seem ridiculous, being able to compare these cars head-to-head allowed me to see how well the Scat Pack does so many things.

So, who should buy the Challenger Scat Pack Widebody? Anyone who wants a 485-horsepower Mopar muscle car with the best possible handling or the best possible launch grip or anyone who wants a car that will stand out in just about any automotive crowd.

Widebody Performance Advantages
The widebody package offers the same advantages in the R/T Scat Pack as it does in the Demon, Hellcat and Redeye. The wider wheels and 305-millimeter wide Pirelli P Zero tires afford the Scat Pack significantly more grip on launch and when you add in the specially-tuned electronic power assisted steering system, the Widebody Scat Pack handles considerably better than the standard body with the narrower wheels and tires. Also, the massive Brembo brakes that come with the Widebody package offer world class stopping power.

I didn’t get to test the Widebody Scat Pack on the track or on the street directly next to the standard body car, but I spent lots of time cruising in the Scat Pack with my wife driving our Hellcat Challenger.

Hard Digs
My Hellcat has the stock Pirelli 275 P Zeros with the 8-speed automatic while the Scat Pack had the 6-speed manual and the stock 305 Pirelli P Zeros, but even with the difference of over 200 horsepower, the Widebody Scat Pack would hop out on the Hellcat on a good launch. Mind you, the Hellcat would drive around it as soon as the tires gripped, but the bottom line here is that the 305 Pirelli tires allowed me to launch the Widebody Scat Pack very hard while still getting good traction. Also, when banging through gears, the 485-horsepower Hemi isn’t as quick to break the 305s loose like it does with the 245 or 275 tires that come on the standard body Scat Pack Challenger.

In other words, the Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody has a distinct in launching ability over the standard body car with the same engine, so if you are into drag racing, this new package will improve the low-end acceleration. In addition to the stock widebody tires gripping better than the stock tires on the narrow body cars, the widebody package also allows you to run a wider drag radial tire at the track without kicking up all sorts of rocks into the rear quarter panels. That being said, drag racers should opt for the automatic transmission over the manual for the best-possible quarter mile times.

Better Cornering
While the improved grip on a hard launch will likely appeal to more potential Challenger drivers, the Scat Pack Widebody wheel and tire package works with the performance-tuned electronic assisted steering system to offer better cornering grip as well. On the road course in Vermont, I was able to push the car through corners just as hard as I was the Redeye, with the big front tires allowing me to point the car where I wanted it to go in the turn – and that was where it went.

In terms of real world driving, I found that in the harshest turning situations – cloverleaf onramps and traffic circles – I could push the Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody much harder than I can my Hellcat. Mind you, I am not talking about oversteer from the back wheels breaking loose from all of that Hemi power; I am talking about being able to accelerate through the turn harder without the front end pushing out along with accelerating harder coming out of the turn without concern of wheel spin.

In every case, whether on the track or the street, the Brembo brakes of the Scat Pack Widebody gets this muscle car stopped a whole lot quicker than the normal Scat Pack brakes, so if you do get into a turn too hard, the brakes will bail you out.

While my Hellcat is stronger and faster, the Widebody Scat Pack sticks to the corners better while also gripping the pavement better on a hard launch, so anyone who is really focused on getting the best possible performance from their Dodge Challenger with the 392 Hemi should take a good, long look at the 2019 Widebody option.

Wow Factor
Finally, if you don’t really care about precision handling, world class braking or the ability to launch from a stop with all 485 horses at work, there is still one reason to buy the Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody. This car turns heads like crazy, benefitting from the massive amounts of attention paid to the Demon, the Widebody Hellcat and the Widebody Redeye. With those big-power models introducing the Challenger Widebody look, it is a design that draws a ton of attention everywhere you go – and not just because people think that it is one of the supercharged models.

While not everyone loves the Challenger Widebody look with the component composite flares, it is really unlike anything that you see on the street on a normal day. The flares catch the eye, as does the wide, menacing stance with those 305s sticking out from under the rear end while the rumble of the 392 Hemi provides the soundtrack for the show.

Sure, some people will give you a disappointed look when you tell them that it is a Widebody Scat Pack and not a Widebody Hellcat, Redeye or Demon, but if you want to draw attention at the local cruise spot – the widebody design of the modern Challenger does just that.

Pricing
My 2019 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody had a price-as-tested of $52,065 while the basic Scat Pack starts at just $38,995. Options include the Plus Package for $1,695, the Driver Convenience Group for $1,095, the summer tires for $595, navigation for $795, the red brake calipers for $495 and the two unavoidable charges – Gas Guzzler Tax at $1,000 and Destination Fees at $1,395. When you add up everything above, you get a price of $46,065. To get to the price-as-tested above, you add the $6,000 Widebody Package and when looking at that $6k upcharge, that is when you have to decide whether you really want the handling, launch grip and widened stance, as it isn’t a cheap option.

However, even at $6,000, the advantages of the Widebody Package on the 2019 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack are undeniable.

Any idea how much heavier this wheel/tire is compared to the 9.5" forged Hellcat wheels w/275 tires?
Also the T/A has the cool air induction hood. I assume that is worth a couple of ponies over the sealed airbox in this Scatpack?

Is it safe to say, the wide body handles better, but a T/A or 1320 would be faster from a roll?

Also the T/A has the cool air induction hood. I assume that is worth a couple of ponies over the sealed airbox in this Scatpack?

Is it safe to say, the wide body handles better, but a T/A or 1320 would be faster from a roll?

There is no change in power ratings on the T/A. No evidence of better track times either. So either it doesn't make anymore power (i.e. like the Shaker cars) or it makes so little that it doesn't show in performance. Dodge posted times for the widebody showing I think it was a .2 tenth drop in the 1/4 compared to a non-widebody. Seems reasonable with the much needed grip of the 305s. The 1320 would of course be significantly quicker with it's DRs and Demon parts.

The T/A is going to be faster around a track over the standard Scat Pack due to the larger wheel/tire and the Hellcat brakes they have.
Widebody ups the T/A with an even larger wheel/tire and more importantly the SRT adjustable dampers and stiffer front end components....so no doubt the best choice for track duty from the Scat Pack packages.
However..
The wider wheel/305 tire on the widebody has to be a few pounds heavier than the 9.5 forged SRT wheel/275 tire or Scatpack 9" wheel/245 tire.
Rotational weight will effect acceleration.
Grip not withstanding..the narrow body Scatpack Chally should be a bit quicker accelerating than the widebody.